Categories
Women in the Valley

Women in the Valley: Rachelle’s Story

Thank you, Rachelle, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! Hey there! My name is Rachelle and I live in Idaho. If you’ve never been to Idaho, basically imagine a bunch of potato fields, some gorgeous mountain ranges, and the sweetest, most overpriced little capital city you’ve ever seen.  I write young […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

A Living Hope: The Resurrection and What It Means for Chronic Illness

Easter is one of my favorite times of year. While celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas brings excitement, awe, and wonder at God becoming man, commemorating the death and resurrection of this same Jesus at Easter brings a thrill, a joy, and a sense of life that no other day offers. Good Friday carries […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

Anchors for the Soul: The Cloud of Witnesses and the Crowd of Witnesses

I (Melissa) have referenced The Thinklings Podcast often on this blog, and the hosts have been gracious to let me share material from various podcast episodes with you. Last year, one of the hosts, Andy Stearns (a professor at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa), experienced the deep, hard valley of the loss of […]

Categories
Special Occasion

Diamonds 2024 Summer Conference: Journeying

Hey y’all! Today, Melissa and Janeen are letting the Diamonds Team take over the blog, with a super exciting announcement. The Diamonds 2024 Spring Conference is taking place March 15-17, and you can sign up today! What is Diamonds Spring Conference 2024? Diamonds is an online conference for Christians with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and health […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

The Invisible Crown of Suffering

Originally published by Jenny Harmon on July 29, 2023, on Oil for Your Lamp. Reposted with permission. Adjusting to life with a disabled body is not for the faint of heart. This transition has felt like being trapped in a perpetual escape room with endless puzzles to solve and no real hope of breaking out. […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

Talents and Spoons: Kingdom Stewardship in Chronic Illness, Part 2

Two weeks ago we looked at the Parable of the Unjust (or Shrewd) Steward in Luke 16, with some resources that helped us understand the parable’s meaning and application for us believers today–including us believers with chronic illness. Today we continue the discussion, looking at Kingdom stewardship in a broader way and with more application […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

Talents and Spoons: Kingdom Stewardship in Chronic Illness, Part 1

I recently read Luke 16 in my morning Bible reading. This chapter presents what we call the Parable of the Unjust (or Shrewd) Steward. In the parable, a steward, or manager, is discovered squandering his master’s wealth. The master decides to fire him, and the steward finagles some accounts with his master’s debtors, reducing the […]

Categories
Women in the Valley

Women in the Valley: Lauren’s Story

Thank you, Lauren, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! I’m Lauren Watt, and I’m 22 years old. I live in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with my parents, crestepoo, and three lovebirds. I have two older brothers and a sister-in-law. I love reading and listening to audiobooks, crocheting, walking, and spending […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

Chronic Illness: A Limitation but Not an Excuse

Chronic Illness vs. Will If you’re like me, you’ve had loving friends gently challenge you not to use your health as an excuse, a crutch, or a cop-out for not doing certain things. While you want to accept any truth from their words, you also know, deeply and painfully, that your chronic illness is a […]

Categories
Wednesday Writings

“Ris’n With Healing in His Wings”: Christmas, Chronic Illness, and God Our Healer

Christmas: Our Celebration Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the new-born King;Peace on earth, and mercy mild;God and sinners reconciled.”Joyful, all ye nations, rise,Join the triumph of the skies;With angelic hosts proclaim,“Christ is born in Bethlehem.” So begins one of the most well-known Christmas carols, a song of jubilant praise for the miracle of the […]